BAKU: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the deep-rooted ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan during a post-election visit to one of his staunchest allies.
Erdogan’s visit to Azerbaijan follows Ankara’s provision of combat drones to Baku, which played a pivotal role in Azerbaijan’s victory over Armenia in the 2020 war for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Addressing a joint news conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Erdogan described Turkey and Azerbaijan as “two sister nations” who have stood together as both states and one people. He affirmed their unwavering commitment to continue their path together with determination.
President Aliyev highlighted the failure of decades of negotiations and praised the effectiveness of Azerbaijan’s military force in achieving their objectives. He expressed the intention of both Azerbaijan and Turkey to strengthen their influence globally and regionally.
Conflict Between Armenia and Azerbaijan
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which lasted for six weeks in late 2020, concluded with a Russian-brokered ceasefire. Under the agreement, Armenia relinquished control over significant territories it had held for decades. Subsequently, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been engaged in negotiations mediated by the European Union and the United States to reach a peace agreement.
The recent thaw in relations between Armenia and Turkey was evident when Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended Erdogan’s inauguration in Ankara on June 3. The two countries have a historically strained relationship due to the mass killings of Armenians during World War I in the Ottoman Empire. While Armenia considers the events a genocide, Turkey vehemently rejects the label.
Erdogan’s Visit to Northern Cyprus
Prior to his visit to Azerbaijan, Erdogan made a stop in northern Cyprus, marking his first official engagement after winning a runoff election, extending his rule until 2028. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia arose following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 when ethnic Armenian separatists in Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan, resulting in a devastating conflict claiming thousands of lives.
